The Freedom Trail (a/k/a The Italian Food Trail) - 10/2/13

One of the reasons we picked Hotel Impossible was because it was very close to the JFK Library. Our plan for today was to visit the JFK Library and not have to deal with going downtown. 

Well, shut me down with a filibuster. Wouldn't you know that the library was closed today due to certain political events?

We ended up using the hotel shuttle to be dropped off downtown. We found ourselves near the Freedom Trail, so we decided we'd be patriotic and historical today.

a 2.5-mile, brick-lined route that leads you to 16 historically significant sites - See more at: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/#sthash.QHdPL8LG.dpuf

a 2.5-mile, brick-lined route that leads you to 16 historically significant sites - See more at: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/#sthash.QHdPL8LG.dpuf, so we decided we'd be patriotic and

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long red (mostly brick) path through downtown Boston, that leads to 17 significant historic sites. It leads from the Boston Common to the USS Constitution in Charlestown. Simple ground markers explaining events, graveyards, notable churches and other buildings, and a historic naval frigate are stops along the way. Even though this trail is part of the Boston National Historical Park, they hadn't figured out how to shut down city streets, so this was one national park that was mostly open, despite the shutdown. (They did figure out how to shut down the Grand Canyon according to friends who had planned a rafting trip there this week.)

Old North Church and Paul Revere

We started our walk in the North End, Boston's oldest neighborhood. Paul Revere lived here and you can visit his house. You can also visit the Old North Church ("One if by land, and two if by sea"). We followed the Freedom Trail to Copp's Hill Burying Ground and decided not to continue across the Charles River to see Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground

Penne alla Norma

We retraced our steps until something told us it was time for lunch. The North End is also known as Little Italy and today it is home to over 80 Italian restaurants and bakeries. We picked out a place on Hanover Street called Florentine Cafe and had a most pleasant lunch.Continuing on our way, we found ourselves at Mike's Pastry, the most awesome bakery in Boston.  They have flavors of cannolis that you have never imagined. You can't go to the North End and NOT have a cannoli, so we ducked inside for a little dessert.

The Old State House

Wiping cannoli crumbs off our faces, we continued following the Freedom Trail toward the site of the Boston Massacre (1770) and the Old State House (1713).





 

The slightly less old State House

 

We passed a number of other historical sites and ended up at the Boston Common where we had a nice view of the new State House (Bulfinch, 1789).

Then we rode the T back to Hotel Impossible, got our bags, took the shuttle to Logan airport, and boarded a 9 pm flight to . . .